Mexican Chow

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Mexican Chow

This song is a homage to Mexican food. For a lot of gringos that is as close as they get to Mexican culture, and the food they have access to is not that authentic. There is a lot of Tex-Mex out there and items on the menu cannot be found in Mexico. Take the burrito for instance. There are very few places that serve it in Mexico. A burrito is just a taco with the ends folded. In Mexico they contain beans and sometimes some meat filling.

 

For those of us living on the border, Mexican food is our primary diet. At almost every meal we eat beans and rice. Want a great steak plate? Try a nice rib eye with beans and rice, tortillas, and a garnish of fresh pico de gallo.  We start the day with machecado con huevo. Machecado is dried beef (think shredded jerky) mixed with eggs, tomatoes, onions, and jalepenos. They are usually served as tacos on tortillas and a side of refried beans. For a special Sunday breakfast, we have tacos de barbacoa.  Barbacoa is a specialty item that comes from the head of a cow. A whole head is buried in a pit and cooked overnight. The results are some of the tastiest and tender meat you have ever put in your mouth.

Lunch can be a plethora of Mexican treats. And each restaurant has its own specialty. If you want flautas you have to go to La Unica. This was a small restaurant in Nuevo Laredo that, because of drug violence, has moved to the US side. Lucky for us. Their flautas are as good as ever. Other great choices are chiles rellenos, guisado, or carnitas. All are served with the ubiquitous beans and rice.

For really special dinners the choice is cabrito. This is baby goat cooked over a very slow fire. Served with guacamole, fresh made corn tortillas, and salsa this is the meal we all dream about.

I believe that food says a lot about the culture of a region. With Mexican food being so varied and delicious it makes sense that the culture is going to be unique. Mexicans love to party and the party is usually centered around food. As the song says “all problems float away, when a plate is on the way”. I can’t imagine living anywhere else when the food is so good in Laredo.

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Gringo Barrio

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What is Gringo Barrio? First off, it is the name of a new band in Austin, Texas that is producing an album to be released in September 2013. We are trying to create a new genre of music that incorporates the sounds of Mexico with Texas folk-country music. The closest comparison might be Doug Sahm or the Texas Tornados; but not exactly. We are creating our own sound and telling stories of life growing up in Laredo, Texas in the 1960’s and 1970’s. We are gringos (sort of) who grew up in a predominately Mexican culture; lived and loved every minute of it. So I guess the real name of the band should be “Gringos del Barrio”, but it does not roll off of the tongue as nicely so we shortened it. 

We have written eleven original songs about life on the Border. Each song tells a story or is about an experience we had. The title track, “Gringo Barrio”, is a song about our love for this place we call home. I still live in Laredo. Sparky is in San Antonio, and Mike is living in Austin where he is a professional musician. Each one of us would still call Laredo home; “Once you drink the water” and all that. The song describes the smells, the sounds, and the places that are iconic. It also reminds that the border is not for everyone. For those that do not like Mexican culture, food, and music, it might not be a good fit. The border has a vibrance that is palatable. The climate is hot and the people are friendly. Being a gringo on the border means you give up some cultural identity but you gain so much more. There is very little prejudice here. You are sized up by what kind of person you are. Culturally this place is neither the United States or Mexico. It is something in between and it makes for a very pleasing mix. 

I hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed producing it!Image